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B3-108

CIGRE 2012

DIGITAL SUBSTATION Tests of Process Bus with GIS

Non Conventional Instrument Transformers
D. CHATREFOU2, J.L. RAYON1, C. LINDNER3
1
ALSTOM Grid, Aix-les-Bains - France
2
ALSTOM Grid, Lyon - France
3
AXPO - Switzerland

SUMMARY
The growing electrical energy demand and the consequences on transmission lines lead the Utilities to
develop networks with more and more flexibility, compactness, on-line monitoring and digital
communication. Therefore, the need for new technology of Instrument Transformers (NCITs) appears
and even certain Asian markets impose such technologies. Whatever the technology of the sensors
used in NCIT for GIS or AIS (Rogowski coil, Faraday optical fiber, Low Power CTs or VTs), t he
output signals coming from their electronics are in a digital format, which causes a compatibility issue
with conventional analogue outputs.
The need of a digital communication standard, accurately defined and worldwide accepted, in order to
insure the interoperability of the systems, is mandatory and the demonstration of the operating
performances with all type of protections is a real challenge. This issue has been pointed out more than
ten years ago, but still today this standard doesnt exist, despite many works from TC57 of the IEC.
The use of the Process Bus IEC 61850-9-2 for sampled values transmission has been proposed but
many parameters has to be defined. One guideline IEC 6 1850-9-2 LE of application has been
written by a small group of manufacturers and is supported by the UCA International Usersgroup. It is
considered as the base of the communication.
TC38 working groups from IEC, specialized in standards for Instrument Transformers, are currently
reorganizing the IEC 60044 set of standards under a new set labeled IEC 61 869 containing a bas e
standard (common clauses) and specific standards for con ventional and the s o-called nonconventional instrument transformers . The working group WG37 is adding a dedicated specific part
IEC 61869-9 describing a single digital interface protocol based on the UCA implementation guideline
IEC 61850-9-2 LE, the IEEE 1588 accurate time synchronization over Ethernet, and the use o f
redundancies.
A complete testing bench called Integrati on Platform has been developed in order t o test the
complete chain, including: primary sensors (CIT or NCIT), primary electronic c onverters, merging
units NMU or AMU, Ethernet switches, various types of prot ections (Distance, Differential line,
Transformer, Busbar), and the bay controller in interface with the DCS (Digital Control System).
Some results are presented in this paper, after a reminder of the sensor technology used for GIS.

KEYWORDS
Smart Grid, Digital Substation, NCIT, Merging unit, Process Bus, IEC 61850

denis.chatrefou@alstom.com

1. INTRODUCTION
Some pilot applications using NCIT (Non Conventional Instrument Transformers) have been
implemented in France and UK on actual 245 and 420 kV GIS for about 6 years, [1]. These field trial
installations have confirmed the performances of these modern sensors, as well as th e robustness of a
comprehensive Protection and Metering system governed by the former applications of the IEC 61850.
Making use of Protection relays from different vendo rs, these pilots also proved the perspectives of
interoperability, absolutely mandatory for the end-Users.
Despite the maturity of these technologies, the limitation of t heir utilization is a reality and some
reasons can be reminded to explain that. Three ways of reasons can be mentioned and many works are
undertaken to overcome the issues in order to start a large deployment in the coming years:

Technology acceptance,

Standardization of the interface,

Testing methods.

This paper expos es how we hav e addressed these three directions and how we have overcome the
potential issues.
Simultaneously we also observed a high pressure favoring the introduction of NCIT technologies and
digital relays in fast developing countries, for voltage applications as high as 550 kV i n GIS. The
observed trends address a large number of different technologies and applications of the sensors like,
for instance, Rogowski or Optical-type current transformers, electronic or magnetic-type core for
metering, capacitive effect Voltage transformers of different techn ologies, together with demanding
high specification in term of: Reliability, Availability and Maintenance performance criteria.

2. TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE
2.1 REMIND OF THE BENEFITS
The emergence of Non Conventional Instrument Transformers (NCIT) in t he field of current and
voltage measurements has been driven by the need for improved performances:

Accuracy over a large metering range: NCIT are manufactured in series with a spread linked to
dimension tolerances, which is corrected during the calibrati on phase using parameters held in an
electronic memory;

Non-saturation of magnetic circuits on extended metering ranges. NCIT are characterised by good
linearity, both in the native state or after correction;

No need for the co nsiderable power occasionally required from the secondary units of
conventional CT and VT;

More compact, while allowing new metering points for a more selective protection scheme;

Communication solutions for providing data to local or remote systems that belong to the power
producer and the T&D network operator;

New operating requirements in relation to the inter-operability / inter-changeability of components

of the chain;

Cabling simplification; in deed conventional instrument transformers are equipped with multiple
secondary units and cabling is ext ensive with significant cross-sections. These parameters also
result in current and voltage transformers that differ from one station to another.

We limit ourselves here to a reminder of the more common NCIT technologies in high voltage substations, which are suited to our GIS substations.

2.2 THE CHOSEN TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS

2.21

Capacitive Voltage sensors

These sensors are distinguishable by a sen sitive element located in the dielectric gas, a m etallic
electrode deposed on a PCB (printed circuit bo ard), which requires penetration into the airtight
compartment. Generally, metering adjustment is made according to the real density of the insulating
gas and the temperature in order to achieve metering classification. Compensation is ap plied by the
Primary Converter (PC) electronics board, [2].
Compared with magnetic voltage transformers, one will note that capacitive voltage sensors do not let
residual charges on the line flow to ground.
2.22

Air core coil current sensors (or Rogowski Coils)

A Rogowski sensor behaves like a v oltage generator which is characterize d by its linearity on an
extended metering range. Filtering takes place in the Primary Converter.
A well manufactured coil on a PCB (printed circuit board), associated with well calculated electronics,
and simultaneously meets the requirements of protection and metering. This combination is a
remarkable quality of these sensors, [2].
But also a coil constructed on a relat ively flexible polymer support can be suitable for protection
requirements. It can therefore present the quality of being opening and capable of being retrofitted to
an existing installation.

2.23

Optical current sensors (or Faraday Effect sensors)

Their principle relies on the influence of the magnetic field on the polarization plane of a light
crossing an optical medium, which is more often a special optical fiber and sometimes a bulk glass.
In the case of an optical fiber, sensor sensitivity is linked to the number of loops. This is why only a
couple of loops are r equired to fulfill the protection function, whereas several dozen are required for
the metering function, which requires greater accuracy, [3], [4].

Primary electronics
Non Conventional VT
compartment

Non Conventional CT and VT

compartment
Primary electronics

Figure 1: View of a very compact three-phased GIS with NCIT

2.3 PERFORMANCES
In general, the IEC 60044 is the series of standards that apply to current and voltage transformers. A
new series, IEC 61869, is in the process o f preparation: mainly to structure all of the NCIT
specifications and changes. The new sensor designs comply with these new standards.

A typical architecture used in GIS is to split the primary electronics, installed very close to the
sensors, to the merging unit likely installed in the local control cubicle near the protections.

Figure 2: Typical architecture in a NCIT system for GIS

The accuracy performance is governed by the standards for sensors. NCIT are accurate, due to the fact
that these devices are exempt from the well known saturation phenomena of conventional magnetictype core equipment and that data can be digitalized at source and communicated via fiber optics that
are unaffected by the electromagnetic environment or voltage drops. Nevertheless the stability of the
sensors versus the environmental conditions, temperature, humidity, EMC, has to be demonstrated and
tested each time. A very special testing bench, called D-BRIDGE, has been developed to make a very
accurate comparison with reference conventional sensors, in amplitude and in phase at an y
frequency. Conventionally we usually use analogue bridges compatible with the rated value (1 /5 A for
currents and 100/V3 for voltages) t o tests conventional instrument transformers. With NCIT we have
to take in ac count the signal processing delay in the electronics. The global idea was to sy nchronize
the electronics of the NCIT with a digital acquisition board used to digitalize the reference sensor, for
example a high ac curacy National Instrument (NI) acquisiti on board. The two digital signals are
acquired on a laptop through Ethernet boards and may have different protocols, or the same. Dedicated
Labview Softwares are written to collect the data and to compare it by different mathematical
calculation (zero method, VRMS, FFT). An HMI allows us to visualize the results in real time.
In the first instance, the durability of electronic devices is above all a question of specification in the
design requirements specification document, the drafting of which requires specific knowledge of the
environment (GIS and GIL in this case) and of the function (particularly protection). The choice of
components, made specifically durable in this case due to an app ropriate design, results from the
specification. Secondly, several years of experience on a NCIT installation installed in complete
redundancy with conventional equipment in re al conditions, is an essential addition for calculations
(MTTF, MTBF). Environmental factors, particular ly the th ermal aspects arising from the loading
currents on the GIS itself, or from environmental conditions, are to be taken into account. Reliability
can be optimized using NCIT architecture by limiting the number of pieces of equipment. For
example, it is sometimes possible, depending on GIS equipment, to bring together several sensors in a
single PC. For example, this is the case in compact design three phase or single phase equipment, [5].

3. STANDARDISATION OF THE INTERFACE

The implementation of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) opens the doo r to dig ital communication
technology, as opposed to analogue signals that are still largely used in high voltage substations. These
standardized digital communications are governed by the IEC 61850 Co mmunication networks and
systems in substations series of standards. In the field of energy transmission and distribution, the IEC
61850 series of standards, and in particular, the standard in relation t o NCIT, represents a major
technological breakthrough, which relies on the i mplementation of powerful Ethernet based digital
communication systems.
The IEC 61850 8-1 standard applies to station bus. They have been used successfully on a massive
scale on several high voltage sub-stations for several years.
The IEC 61850 9-2 LE standard relat es directly to NCIT sensor communication. If, to-date, a
small number of pilot applications use this process bus in industrialized countries, it is important
to highlight its massive deployment in certain high growth countries.
One of the key components is the Ethernet optical communication driver. This component is essential
and results from the use of glass core fiber optics as a physical medium. In relation to this link, one of
the two fi bers is used constantly to pulse the instantaneous values of metered current or voltage. The
sampling rate is 8 0 sample values per period for p rotection, or 256 sample values per period for
qualimetry metering. The second fiber is used, in particular, for Manufacturing Message Specification
(MMS) communications, enabling IED monitoring among other things.
The time lag introduced by processing and transmitting digital data is minimal, and is taken into account
in sensor design. Communication performance is compatible with function, and system architecture is
developed accordingly.
The IEC 61850 standards offer the capacity to produce a large variety of communication architectures,
applicable in a wide field and suited to the criticality of links or network loading.
In practice in GIS a complete application chain consists of the following elements, as illustrated below:

Figure 3: Example of NCIT Architecture in GIS

As already mentioned we are physically separating the Primary Converters from the Merging Unit for
industrial and practical reasons.
Given the low level of output signals from a NCI T metering element, it is essential that a Primary
Converter (PC), which is an electronic converter with signal filtering (low pass filter), signal
digitization (CAN) and signal processing, be positioned in immediate proximity.
In order to obtain the best possible metering accuracy, the level of sensitivity (the highest level possible)
of the metering element should be related to the level of background noise (the lowest possible) of the
printed circuit board. T his characteristic is one of the reasons that explain why manufacturers supply
sensors that form a NCIT / PC couple that is often inseparable. In addition the PC may be a single unit
and compatible with three phase and single phase inputs. This allows the use of a single hardware
platform to be expanded. This also allows common test equipment to be used.
The PC calculation capacity is used to communicate with a piece of equipm ent called a Merging Unit
(MU) by using a proprietary protocol.
The MU gathers the inpu ts coming from different PC (for current and voltage) and has several out put
ports intended for communication with different equipment using the measurements like the protections,
the bay controller or the metering devices.

Figure 4: Primay converter and merging unit forGIS substation

4. INTEGRATION PLATFORM, TESTING BENCH

In order to check the entire integration of all th e IEDs of the digital substation, according to the
various architectures and the various protocols, a very complete testing bench has been developed.
4.1 DESCRIPTION
The Integration Platform is working with an Omicron Test Set-up (CMC356) which ca n inject a
large various number of scenarios of faults for each type of protection.
One big advantage of the CMC 356 is the possibility to generate and inject the signals under several
formats and activate various IED with different inputs.
For example, we can generate line faults (3ph currents and 3ph voltage) with:
Analogue format high level (1A ; 100V)
Analogue format low level (0-10 V)
Digital format IEC 61850-9-2LE
So it is possible to compare different possible arrangements, including for example:
A conventional connection Omicron-Protection with conventional interface, as a reference,
A digital connection Omicron-Protection with a digital 9-2LE connection,
An analogue low level connection to Primary Converters, simulating NCIT sensors, plus a
merging unit and a digital IEC 61850-9-2LE interface to the protection,
A high level analogue connection to primary Optical or Rogowski sensors having a high
sensitivity and multi tours wiring for the primary injection.
So it is p ossible to comp are
two acquisition channels, one
conventional and one non
conventional with pro cess bus
and check if the measurements,
the characteristic, the tripping
delay are similar (with the
accuracy of +/- 2 ms).

Figure 5: Principle of the Integration Platform testing bench

4.2 DISTANCE PROTECTION RESULTS

Various schemes of configuration have been tested. The protection is a Micom P444 from ALSTOM
Grid. Other vendors of distance protections are expected to be tested in a near future.
For each case we are checking very carefully:
The measurements accuracy,
The characteristic of the protection,
The tripping time for each zone.

PACIS OI

OMICRON TESTING TOOL CMC356

Current

Voltage

Trip

CU OUTPUT 1A
CU IEC 61850 8-1

CU OUTPUT 110V

x3

SWITCH H342

FO PROPRIETARY

CU IEC 61850 8-1

*
NXMU

PROTECTION

FO 1 PPS
CU IRIG-B
FO IEC 61850 9-2

SYNCHRO
UNIT
SWITCH

Required accuracy

+/- 0,5%

MEASURING ACCURACY
P444
Test

CONV
NCIT via PC9/NMU
NCIT via NXMU
NCIT with Omicron
NCIT via PC12/NMU
CONV
NCIT_Omicron
NCIT_PC9/NMU
NCIT_PC9/NMU+Switch
NCIT_NXMU
NCIT_NXMU+Switch
NCIT_PC12/NMU
NCIT_PC12/NMU+Switch

General Medium Delta (%)

U
I
f
0,072
0,195
0,000
0,005
0,010
0,000
0,193
0,249
0,000
0,000
0,010
0,002
0,057
0,188
0,000
Conventionnal relay + Omicron
Non Conventionnal relay + Omicron
Non Conventionnal relay + NMU + PC9 + Omicron
Non Conventionnal relay + Switch + NMU + PC9 + Omicron
Non Conventionnal relay + Optical Sensor + NXMU + Omicron
Non Conventionnal relay + Switch + Optical Sensor + NXMU + Omicron
Non Conventionnal relay + NMU + PC12 + Omicron
Non Conventionnal relay + Switch + NMU + PC12 + Omicron

P444
Test on
CONV
CONV
NCIT_Omicron
NCIT_Omicron
NCIT_PC9/NMU
NCIT_NMU
NCIT_PC9/NMU+Switch
NCIT_NMU+Switch
NCIT_NXMU
NCIT_NXMU
NCIT_NXMU+Switch
NCIT_NXMU+Switch
NCIT_PC12/NMU
NCIT_NMU
NCIT_PC12/NMU+Switch
NCIT_NMU+Switch

Based on settings up, in ms

Trip by
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose

Delta min
(1)
6,4
14,0
11,2
14,0
14,9
15,0
13,6
13,0
15,9
10,8
10,8
14,7
12,0
12,0
10,3
15,0

Delta Max
(2)
27,1
32,7
30,7
32,6
28,5
32,4
31,1
32,4
31,8
31,7
30,4
31,9
25,2
29,4
26,9
29,6

Medium
Medium delta
deviation (3) Goose/Contact (4)
17,99
3,24
21,23
21,56
2,11
23,67
22,55
0,29
22,83
21,41
0,94
22,35
22,33
0,43
22,76
20,83
2,51
23,33
18,56
2,79
21,35
18,67
2,12
20,79

The results are fu lly satisfactory

for Sampled Values transmission
by
Ethernet
Process
Bus
connection to the protection.
We observe a little ad ditional
delay of 3 ms on the tripping time
for all configurations involving
the NCIT module of the
protection in com parison to the
conventional connection.
It comes from a 3m s
temporization intentionally added
in the p rotection algorithm in
order to be su re that all d igital
frames are well arrived. This
delay limit appears in the
Standard.
The GOOSE trip gives also an
additional small delay of 2 ms
which is also accepted in the
standard.
This test demonstrates the full
operational digital chai n between
sensors and the circuit breaker.

4.2 DIFFERENTIAL BUSBAR PROTECTION RESULTS

Various schemes of configuration have been tested. We have si mulated a sm all substation with six
feeders. The protection is a Micom P746, one box differential busbar from Alstom Grid. The tests with
the full busbar with unlimited feeders are expected for the end of 2012.
We have checked very carefully:
The measurements accuracy,
The characteristic of the protection,
The tripping time for each zone.
PACIS OI

TESTING TOOL
Current Voltage
3

Current

Current
3

Trip
3

CU OUTPUT 1A
CU OUTPUT 110V

CU IEC 61850 8-1

CU OUTPUT LL
(0 - 10Vdc)

x3

x3

PC9

x3

x3

PC9

x3

PC9

SWITCH H342

PC9
CU IEC 61850 8-1

CU PROPRIETARY
FO PROPRIETARY

*
NXMU

PROTECTION
NMU

NMU

NMU

NMU

CU IRIG-B
CU IEC 61850 9-2
FO 1 PPS
FO IEC 61850 9-2

SYNCHRO UNIT
SWITCH H342
GPS ANTENNA

* : Thermometer link

ARGT 04-2

Setting (A) tolrance

NCIT VALIDATION PLATFORM

NCIT - SBU - SP - 001

Rev C

0,02In or 5%

P746
Test on
CONV
CONV & CONV
NCIT_PC9/NMU & PC9/NMU
NCIT_PC9/NMU & PC9/NMU
NCIT_PC12/NMU & PC9/NMU
NCIT_PC12/NMU & PC9/NMU

Based on settings up, in A

Trip by
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose
Contact
Goose

Delta Min
(1)
0,0030
0,0030
0,0030
0,0030
0,0010
0,0010

Delta Max
Medium
Medium delta
(2)
deviation (3) Goose/Contact (4)
0,0100
0,0069
-0,0005
0,0100
0,0064
0,0140
0,0041
-0,0002
0,0120
0,0039
0,0090
0,0043
0,0005
0,0090
0,0048

The results are fully

compliant
with
the
requirements.
This protection will be
installed very soon on a
digital substation for a
Utility

4.3 OTHER PROTECTION RESULTS

All protections have been tested successfully and
the results are contained in a huge data base.

5. CONCLUSIONS
The NCIT devices, developed from several different physical principles, installed as part of the GIS
pilot applications benefit from very promising experience feedback in a context that is favorable to the
emergence of this technology.
A large nu mber of industrial installations, linked t o the growth requirements of e merging countries,
where voltage is spread mainly between 110 and 525kV, will be equipped with this technology in the
near future.
The standards framework proposed by the application of IEC 61850 is the link between manufacturers
and operators. Its legitimacy lies in a guarantee of sustainable development and adhesion, associated
with real economies of scale, operational reliability and increased maintainability.
Knowledge of the environment, associated with experience feedback and knowledge of the standards
and the technology, make it possible to propose NCIT equipment suited to requirements.
The tests of all protections with the process bus have been a huge work, expected for a l ong time.
Facing the pressure of ce rtain customers for a pplications with NCIT (in GIS or AIS) , we have
completed the tests in order to be able to offer the complete Digital Substation. Some industrial real
projects are ongoing.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
[1]

Luc Hossenlopp, Denis Chatrefou, Damien Tholomier, Dac Phuoc Bui ; "Process
Experience and impact on future system architectures, CIGRE 2008 paper B5-104

bus:

[2]

D. Chatrefou, Ph. Ponch on, D. Du plan, M. Osnourne ; Pilot application with Non
Conventional Instrument Transformers and digital protections using IEC protocol for
communication, CIGRE 2006 paper B3-203

[3] J. Blake, P. Tantaswadi, R. T. de Carvalho, In-Line Sagnac Interferometer Current Sensor, IEEE
Trans. Power Delivery, vol. 11, pp. 116-21, Jan. 1996.
[4] J. Blake, W. Williams, C. Glasow, R. Bergh, K. Fetting, E. Hadley, and G. Sanders, Optical
Current Transducers for High Voltage Applications, 2nd EPRI Optical Sensors Systems
Workshop, Atlanta, Jan. 2000.
[5]

JL Rayon, Y. Doin, F. Gallon, G. Granelli, P. Juge, A. Ficheux, Non Conventional Instrument

Transformer solutions applied to GIS ; MATPOT 2011

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